OK- yes I don't post much lately - the Real Estate Market is UP and I am Swamped!

I am torn - there is this incredible deal on Silversea - Istanbul to Athens September 12 to 19, 2009. Free Air fare - or $800 credit per person when you being your own (which I can do - well with miles - not my own jet!) - $1000 Ship Board Credit from Silversea. $300 Ship Board Credit from AMEX Platinum and then the BK Rewards!!!!

So the Miles are working out to 180,000 in COACH for 2! I am tempted - so tempted to spend them on this - even though we are in a recession and I swore no vacations this year.....this is such a deal....who else is going????

Don't forget that transfers are usually included if the cruise line does your air, so your $1,600 refund compared to 180,000 miles plus transfers may not be the best deal if you stay in coach. If the miles bought first class, I'd totally agree.

We got taxi's in Istanbul and Athens and I don't remember them being too costly but then again, I have no memory!
I say get while the going is good! If you knew Silversea wasn't going to rescind the great offers when the economy improves, that would be a different story.

The Athens and Istanbul taxis were a fair deal. We were not ripped off. We had a car service pick us up in Istanbul and it was decently priced. Just look up the prices...I don't remember what they were, but no sticker shock.

I'm just thinking about ALL the advantages with this cruise - it starts in Istanbul and overnights in Istanbul! We can go from the airport to the ship - then the next day spend some of our $1300 ship board credits on Shore Excursions! Then, when we dock in Athens - I can use more Ship Board Credits for Transportation to the Airport. Then all stops in between - ust the rest of the Ship Board credits....

We have been to Athens - no need to see it again.

I just need a vacation!

I think you've talked yourself into it! And then you can't get enough of Istanbul can you? Do you have time to visit Cappadocia? We have a great hotel to recommend to you in Istanbul.

Andi-

Is it on Priceline.com???

Regards,

Todd

Yes, from $208. I think you can work a deal with them. There are all sorts of deals on other sites and directly with hotel. TripAdvisor..it was the number 1 hotel..very well priced. Sirkeci Konak...totally wonderful. Great restaurant too.

Todd - We're already booked on Sept. 18 Navigator so reluctantly cannot join you. With the larger cruise credits on offer, there's just so much more one can enjoy for a much more reasonable cost vs. the last few years. Go for it!!

We did find another Silversea deal we are holding for Decemlber. Wouldn't have found it without your help. Thank you very much!

Cheers, Anne

Hi Todd:

Sound like an enticing offer, and we would love to try Siversea at some point!!!!

Need to have a meeting with my business Partner on this one.........

FV

Todd Wonders why more people don't try Silversea - especially with the offers they have now. This post is SO Facebook!

Todd, we have often talked about trying S.S. It would make it easier if we didn't have all the perks through Regent....hard to give those up.

Todd, we are trying Silversea in the fall of 2010. A crossing from Lisbon on their new ship, Spirit. My "business partner" has been planning this one. LOL. I don't even know the dates. We're going to add in some type of land thing in Spain or Portugal before the cruise. Like Marcie, I'll miss my Regent perks, especially the internet but it's time for me to try another line. Helps my travel writing.

HI Todd;

We are very tempted!!!!

This is an amazing deal and with the shipboard credits!! we would not be losing any perks from trying Silversea, we only have 50 nights with Regent so the loss of internet and some phone time would not be a big deal for us. You can buy a lot of internet time with a $1300 shipboard credit

So Tempting!!!!!

FV

So here is what happened. Mike noted that traveling in September might affect his ability to work the rest of the year (he is a Location Manager for Film and TV) and he does an annual trip in Canada for 2 weeks in Canada in August (a wilderness canoe trip).

So - what did I do? I am so tired - have had 2 days off this year. We decided to go NCL Barcelona to Barcelona May 31, 2009 - Mini-Suite - $2200 for 2. Used Frequent Flier miles - only 100,000 for 2! OK - what are my expectations? Vegas at Sea! I will report back.

Also, staying at the Grand Marina Hotel 2 nights after the cruise and the Sol Melia Barcelona pre-cruise 1 night - all from Hotwire.com

Am so looking forward to a rest. Will be going to a few places I have not been before - Valletta Malta, Cannes France and visiting some of my favorites like Sorrento, Rome and Florence.

Should be interesting!

How could this be anything but good? I have a very classy friend who won't travel anything but NCL. You just change your expectations. A cruise is a cruise and you will have fun. You will be with Mike! Have a great time!!!

Todd - the May cruise sounds wonderful. enjoy!

Cheers, Anne

It will be a surprise for Mike when we get off the ship at the end of the trip and I point to our hotel - booked it for 2 nights post (hotwire!). Gran Marina Hotel - never stayed there. The Arts a few times but not this one. How convenient!

HI Todd:

Wish we could join you, but just bad timing.

You guys will have a blast!!!!

What a great price and nice getaway!!!

Stayed at the Grand Marina after our honeymoon for 3 nights and it was wonderful. Took me a day or so to figure out the shower, but really nice property with huge rooms..


Enjoy!!!!

Todd, we are taking our niece on the June 7th Barcelona to Barcelona NCL cruise. We will be getting on when y'all are getting off. Sorry we are not on the same sailing. Enjoy and try to post so we know what we are in for. Have a great cruise.

Carolyn

Todd, have you left yet? You must have. I am looking forward to hearing what you have to say. You, too Yallcruise. Lots of people do the Gem. I have been researching Barcelona like crazy since we are going on Silver Spirit maiden Barcelona to Lisbon December 23 and I am afraid hotels will start filling up. I have found all sorts of city guides and stuff on CC in the Europe folder.

Yallcruise, where are you staying? I'm even considering Hotel Continental for one night. The ship overnights another night in Barcelona, and we will do an SS wine tour then.

Debbie - Leaving Friday night! Can't wait. Vegas at Sea!

Oh Carolyn - that's too bad we are not on the same cruise! I will try to check in along the way. What type of stateroom do you have booked? I still have not been assigned a stateroom - I booked a mini-suite gty - I check daily, well a few times a day to be honest!

Our bright mini-suite on the NCL Gem.

Fair Winds and Following seas Todd..

ps don't forget the sunglasses (for your mini suite as well as the pool)

Not just the pool, not just the room Wes - the whole ship is BRIGHT!

Got my room assignment today!! 11128 - not bad - I had booked a gty. Leaving Friday!

Let's see - Silversea or NCL? Can't wait to hear the report!

Well Silversea hands down.

The report-

The good:

The price - $1100 per person for a Mini Suite - about 240 square feet plus a 50 square foot balcony (about the size of a Mariner Suite).

The Mini-Suite - Loved the size, Living Room, Balcony - good looking room - we used the Balcony daily to watch sail aways from the different ports and playing cards.

The Itin - Barcelona RT including: Valetta, Naples, Rome, Florence, Cannes.

The Rock Climbing Wall - did it about 5 times.

The Bowling Alley at Sea

The Teppanyaki Restaurant at Sea - a Specialty Restaurant - $25/pp extra - I thought this was really cool to have a Benihana Style Restaurant at sea - it was the most popular restaurant.

Le Bistro Restaurant - $15/pp extra - food was quite good - had Filet Mignon one night and a Tenderloin the other.

Walking right off the ship with our luggage for disembarkation - No luggage out by 11 pm the night before - we just walked right off!

Freestyle cruising - Very similar to Regent and Silversea - Dine when you want and with whom you want.

The Bad-

The Crowds - people everywhere.

The Up Selling - Drinks, Bottled Water, Fitness Evaluations etc etc

The Food - unless we were at a specialty restaurant with an additional fee - the food at Dinner was just ok - not great. We tried a few of the regular restaurants and I was not impressed with the food.

Overall all I thought we got a great deal for a last minute cruise - I had a great time and I went with the expectations of Las Vegas at Seas - and was not dissappointed.

Todd, do you see why we pay those prices for Regent and Silversea? I don't think you are yet a convert

Oh I would much prefer Silversea - it just didn't work out this time on short notice at a good rate using frequent flier miles. I wanted to do the Silversea September 12th Istanbul to Athens it just didn't work out.

Still seems like you are having a great time, which you always do!

Todd, bottom line, how much extra did it cost over the base price when you added drinks and specialty restaurants and gratuities?

Andi-

Not much. The tipping, the extra restaurants (3 nights), wine with dinner (1 glass, maybe 2), drink setup in the room (Beefeater Gin 1 litre) for gin and tonics, internet 300 minutes $100, bowling etc came to about $600 extra total - on top of the $1100 pp that comes out to $1400 pp. Now - I have found some incredible deals in the past on Silversea - 3 years ago in the Caribbean for $1750pp no balcony (just a shared balcony) and $2000 pp for Rome to Athens 2 years ago (shared balcony). The best deal this year I found was this original post at a Net $2750pp for Istanbul to Athens - this was after all the discounts $800 (pp) for bringing air, $1000 shipboard cresit pp, and the AMEX and BK rewards.

Of course I would rather have been on Silversea or Regent - but we did have fun on NCL.

Oh and I forgot - the special Laundry Bag that showed up 2 days into the trip - put all you want in it and they will laundry/press it for $24,95 - we probably got $90 to $100 worth or items laundered at their regular prices.

Glad you had a great time Todd, thanks for sharing your experience with us. Of course, I suspect you would have a great time anywhere, anytime.

Todd, thanks for sharing info about the cruise. How was Barcelona? Did you post that somewhere?

Hey Debbie-

Barcelona was great! We spent 3 nights - 1 pre and 2 post cruise. The 1st night we stayed at a Sol Melia a few metro stops from Las Ramblas. The last 2 nights we stayed at the Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel - right in the Port of Barcelona - 5 - 10 minute walk to Las Ramblas - right in the area where our cruise ship docked. In fact there was the Silver Whisper (I think or the Shadow - it was one we had been on) was docked right next to our hotel.

We toured the popular areas - Las Ramblas, Gothic Area, Sagrada de Familia (Gaudi Cathedral), Park Guell (Gaudi), Tibidabo and then on the last day we went by train to Sitges - a lovely Beach Town about 45 minutes from Barcelona.

Had a great time.

Glad to hear it. I've been considering a few places for both sightseeing and where to stay. Six months seems like a long ways.

Debbie-

Regarding where to stay - I really did like the Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel and you can't beat the location for picking up a cruise.

The other hotel I liked a lot there was the Arts - Ritz Carlton Hotel - have not stayed there in years though. Great views of the city/Med.

Sounds like a great deal, Todd. Thanks for sharing.